Has your life and lifestyle changed since you had an encounter with Jesus, like Saul who became Paul or Zacchaeus the tax collector?  Or are you doing the same old things repeatedly and perpetrating a fraud under the Christian banner? Most people claim that they are Christians and they love God, yet their actions and lifestyle says something different. However, whatever a man sows that shall he also reap, because you can’t mock God. You are either for Him or against Him. If you are for God then your actions and lifestyle will reflect it.

1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.”

James 4:4 “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

1 John 2:15-16 and James 4:4 lets us know that anyone who loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them because all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, eyes and the pride of life. So who are you fooling? No one but yourself and Judgment Day will tell.

It does not matter to Jesus how tall or short you are, how rich or poor you are, or what color or race you are. He came to seek all who are lost, burdened and heavy laden. Like Zacchaeus, all who seek Him will find Him. All who are curious will find Him. All who are willing to invite Jesus into their lives will no doubt be transformed into a new creature; old habits and lifestyles will be abolished.

Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus changed him drastically and immediately. It says in verse six of Luke 19 that he received Jesus joyfully. Because he was not happy with his lifestyle; a prominent job and riches, he had it all, yet was not happy, but when he heard that Jesus was coming, he sought to see Him and went to an extreme measure to see Him. When I think of the extreme Zacchaeus went through to see Jesus, I pray that the people of today’s society would do the same instead of going out of their way to see someone famous, like an entertainer, movie star, singer, sports figure, politician or even a clergy person who are famous. Why not go out of your way to meet Jesus who can save you and give you eternal life, joy, peace and more than a two-minute thrill with an entertainer.

Zacchaeus’ transformation was evident, he confessed his sins of extortion and promised to restore everything he took from poor folks with interest and even a promise to give half of his wealth to the poor. The beauty of this story is that God through Jesus gave him something that was more than he already had, better than he already had and something he never had that money couldn’t buy.

Zacchaeus realized that the best gifts in life are free and that it was more blessed to give than to receive. Jesus gave him something and he in turn learned the principle of giving, so he was willing to do the same by giving what he had to give to bring joy to someone else.

We might not have wealth to give, but we can offer salvation because it’s worth more than money. We can give encouragement or assist in ways that will help someone. As Christians let’s show the world what a privilege and pleasure it is to be a child of the King of kings and God of the universe.

• Instead of always looking to receive, why not try to be a giver. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

“Help me Lord to be honest and true in all that I say and do; give me the courage and whatever I need to do what is right, to bring to the world a glimpse of your light.” -Prayer from ODB

If you have never said a prayer to receive the salvation of the Lord you can do so now by going to the Salvation page above. On that page you will see a prayer asking Jesus to enter into your heart; you can pray that prayer or pray one personally to God.

All glory, honor, praise and thanks go to God for using me to deliver this message. I pray that He will give all who read this message the spiritual gifts necessary to comprehend and act upon His word. I exercise my power and authority in the name of Jesus to bind every tactic of the enemy that will try to stop, hinder, or prevent this word from reaching its intended people. I loose the Holy Spirit and the heavenly angels to secure this word so that it reaches its intended people, according to Matthew 16:19 and Luke 10:19 in the omnipotent name of Jesus, Amen.